Budget Recommendation - Emotiva or Elac

[BriReeves629]

Does anyone have any comparisons or recommendations on these two brands? I am looking at either the new passive Emotiva Airmotiv's or the Elac Uni-Fi's. I am still deciding between the bookshelves or towers.

Here are my parameters:

16 x 16 Room with 11' tall ceilings.
These will be used 100% for music at a moderate volume. This is for relaxing mood music; Mostly acoustic, soft rock and some jazz with saxophone (David Sanborn, Michael Brecker) or Vocals (Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr and the like). There will be no subwoofer. I will be using the 3rd Zone of my AVR which is passive and I plan to purchase an Emotiva A-100 stereo amp to power these with.

My budget is around $1k for the speakers and amp.


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[BoredSysAdmin]

ok, for moderate volume mostly music (nothing crazy or unusual here which could be of issue)
Mid-room (I think either you're not very accurate with your measurements - if your room is really perfect square? If it is - you will have serious acoustics issues which would need to be addressed asap)

Why only these two brands?

Let me introduce to few very, very good alternatives - all with-in your price point.
https://rbhsound.com/r55ti.php
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/ccb-8.html
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

R55TI are especially impressive for their low price. (They used to be called EmpTek E55Ti),
but you'll be happy with either of these. Ascends have matching optional stands to make them look like tower speakers and you'll need to get your own speaker stands for HSUs

 

[BriReeves629]

ok, for moderate volume mostly music (nothing crazy or unusual here which could be of issue)
Mid-room (I think either you're not very accurate with your measurements - if your room is really perfect square? If it is - you will have serious acoustics issues which would need to be addressed asap)

Why only these two brands?

Let me introduce to few very, very good alternatives - all with-in your price point.
https://rbhsound.com/r55ti.php
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/ccb-8.html
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

R55TI are especially impressive for their low price. (They used to be called EmpTek E55Ti),
but you'll be happy with either of these. Ascends have matching optional stands to make them look like tower speakers and you'll need to get your own speaker stands for HSUs

This is a bedroom and yes it is basically square. I am looking for a speaker that will sound good while listening in different spots within the room.

What could I do to improve the acoustics in a square room?


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[zieglj01]

The Emotiva T1 looks good to me -- however, I would favor the A-150 Amp

 

[Johnny2Bad]

I don't think anyone can choose a loudspeaker for you, unless you're not hard to please, in which case either would be fine. Try to listen to each and then decide. I could post what I would buy, but that does you no good. I am not you.

Your choice of bookshelf or towers is a bit unsettling, as these have very different sound characteristics. Do some listening of each type; it doesn't matter that they may not be one of your choices listed above. You will soon figure out which you prefer.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

This is a bedroom and yes it is basically square. I am looking for a speaker that will sound good while listening in different spots within the room.

What could I do to improve the acoustics in a square room?

The short answer is look at #2 post here:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/91-audio-theory-setup-chat/1132060-square-room-acoustic-treatments.html

Long answer - you'll need to start reading, a lot:
http://www.linkwitzlab.com/rooms.htm
http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/room-improvement
http://ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

http://www.gikacoustics.com/acoustic-advice-form/ - this guys could help you design a solution which would work for your room.

cheaper and DIY panels:
https://www.atsacoustics.com/

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The Emotiva T1 looks good to me -- however, I would favor the A-150 Amp

For bedroom, I am willing to get that smaller bookshelves would be better bet, I'm now even more convinced you should check out these HSU new bookshelves I linked earlier.

 

[zieglj01]

For bedroom, I am willing to get that smaller bookshelves would be better bet, I'm now even more convinced you should check out these HSU new bookshelves I linked earlier.

Nothing wrong with going after HSU -- however for my preference choice on bookshelf, I would still go after the Emotiva B1 bookshelf.

 

[BriReeves629]

For bedroom, I am willing to get that smaller bookshelves would be better bet, I'm now even more convinced you should check out these HSU new bookshelves I linked earlier.

What is it about the HSU's do you like in my space? Descriptively the HSU's seem like the best option from what I read about their coaxial driver, but I'm having a hard time getting over that yellow woofer...


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[BoredSysAdmin]

I think that coaxial design of these bookshelves and their performance/price makes these good candidates.
I haven't heard them myself yet, but I trust James's opinion (look for a preview article) who did.

 

[zieglj01]

Descriptively the HSU's seem like the best option from what I read about their coaxial driver, but I'm having a hard time getting over that yellow woofer...

Test them out in your room -- maybe your ears will over-rule your eyes. The word on those speakers have been good -- and they throw a big soundstage.

If you cannot live with them -- then send them back.

 

[BriReeves629]

I think that coaxial design of these bookshelves and their performance/price makes these good candidates.
I haven't heard them myself yet, but I trust James's opinion (look for a preview article) who did.

What are your thoughts on the Ascends that you attached link for in my space? Aesthetically these are really nice and I like the way stands you can purchase look (I could get speakers and stands for the same price as the HSU's as well).


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[BriReeves629]

Test them out in your room -- maybe your ears will over-rule your eyes. The word on those speakers have been good -- and they throw a big soundstage.

If you cannot live with them -- then send them back.

Definitely like that I can test them in my room first!


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[zieglj01]

Definitely like that I can test them in my room first!

You will have to pay return shipping if you cannot live with them -- if budget permits, buy a couple of sets of speakers -- do an in home trial -- then send the loser back.

Do you have Klipsch speakers in your home?

 

[BriReeves629]

You will have to pay return shipping if you cannot live with them -- if budget permits, buy a couple of sets of speakers -- do an in home trial -- then send the loser back.

Do you have Klipsch speakers in your home?

Yes. My HT set up in my family room is all Klipsch. I love my Klipsch, but I'm looking for something different in here. Something not as bright as the Klipsch.


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[zieglj01]

Yes. My HT set up in my family room is all Klipsch. I love my Klipsch, but I'm looking for something different in here. Something not as bright as the Klipsch.

Then HSU, Ascend, and Emotiva would be some nice options to check in to. And, the word on the Focal Aria series is good -- they seem to be on closeout pricing.
https://www.amazon.com/Focal-905AriasBlk-Aria-905-Black/dp/B00RPC357G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1495549262&sr=8-2&keywords=focal+aria

https://www.amazon.com/Focal-905AriaWal-Aria-905-Walnut/dp/B012BCU23O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495549262&sr=8-1&keywords=focal+aria

 

[kini]

Does anyone have any comparisons or recommendations on these two brands? I am looking at either the new passive Emotiva Airmotiv's or the Elac Uni-Fi's. I am still deciding between the bookshelves or towers.

Here are my parameters:

16 x 16 Room with 11' tall ceilings.
These will be used 100% for music at a moderate volume. This is for relaxing mood music; Mostly acoustic, soft rock and some jazz with saxophone (David Sanborn, Michael Brecker) or Vocals (Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr and the like). There will be no subwoofer. I will be using the 3rd Zone of my AVR which is passive and I plan to purchase an Emotiva A-100 stereo amp to power these with.

My budget is around $1k for the speakers and amp.


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Why not do small bookshelf speakers and a small sub?

If good sound while moving around the room is one requirement check out- http://ohmspeaker.com/speakers/